A light round of direct cash cattle trade is underway. Live deals in Kansas are marked at $136, $1 higher than last week’s weighted averages. The rest of cattle country has been slow to start, but more business is expected to develop. Some bids have surfaced at $225 dressed. Asking prices are around $137 to $138 in the South, while not fully established in the North.
Boxed beef is higher at midday on solid demand for light offerings. Choice is $.97 higher at $272.39 and Select is $.45 higher at $250.01. The Choice/Select spread is $22.38.
At the Kingsville Livestock Auction in Missouri, compared to last week the majority of steers were $2 to $8 higher and steers 450 to 550 pounds were mostly $10 higher with spots of $15 higher on increased demand.
